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Logitech Announces New Keyboard for the Living Room (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

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Logitech Introduces New Harmony Keyboard to Simplify Streaming in Your Living Room
posted on MARCH 4, 2014 by LOGITECH


Today, we’re excited to unveil the Logitech Harmony® Smart Keyboard, which delivers the power of Harmony universal remotes in a keyboard and touchpad specially designed for the living room.
More and more people are streaming content in the living room whether from their computer, streaming-media device, such as Apple TV or Roku or game console, such as Xbox One and Sony PS3. These devices seem to deliver limitless entertainment options, however their accompanying remotes struggle to keep up with the text entry needed to search for selections.
Enter the Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard. It makes searching for programs fast, and its integrated touchpad simplifies navigating menus, and surfing the Web.
The keyboard integrates buttons, such as “Guide,” “Pause,” “Play,” and Channel up or Down, as well as game console navigation buttons. It also comes with the Harmony Hub, which turns signals from the keyboard or your smartphone – via the Harmony App – into commands your entertainment devices understand. It is compatible with more than 225,000 home-entertainment devices and more than 5,000 brands. That means that with the Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard, there’s no need for additional remotes.
The keyboard and smartphone app also work without pointing, so you don’t have to worry about cabinet doors getting in the way of your signal.
Check out the video below for a closer look.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7keDjSpFbO4&feature=share&list=PLKPFod6yzh8QW4le-obQU16OJ4_RCA_h8
 

DaveF

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Interesting. But people who buy expensive remotes have iPads, which has Tivo and Xbox and etc. apps, already giving them keyboard access to those devices.

Still, I watch my wife fumble to search for a show using 4-way cursor to enter the name, while her iPad is open on her lap, with a crossword puzzle. Maybe a dedicated keyboard remote would get some use, if available?

I'll be curious to see price and feature set. My Harmony One is getting old (the motion-sensitive light feature no longer works). I'm open to an excellent new universal remote control.
 

DaveF

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Checked the Logitech website.

At $150 with hub, it's a mixed affair. If I was also buying the Harmony Ultimate One, I could buy the Keyboard to get the hub. Then it's like the keyboard is $50, which is cheap enough to try.

But if I already have an Ultimate and Hub, $150 to get the keyboard (and an unwanted extra hub) is too much.


I'll put this in my "when I can spend $20k to set up the basement HT, I won't notice another $400 on remote controls" category :)
 

Ronald Epstein

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Logitech will be sending me one of these to review....

...however I too already have a hub as well (for the iPad app).

I like the idea of a keyboard remote. I am currently using a Logitech
DiNovo to browse the web and email on my display.

...and that's a rechargeable keyboard.

However, this new Logitech remote keyboard is not rechargeable
which is already a huge negative for this product, in my opinion. All
the remotes Logitech sells are rechargeable -- why not this keyboard?

Still, the benefit I like is that I can pick up the keyboard and control all
my components while being able to bring up and browse any apps (Netflix,
Vudu) as well as surf the Internet and do a little email on my display while
watching television.
 

DaveF

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I've invested in rechargeable AA batteries, so AA-powered devices are fine by me :) That also brings down their cost. I assume that's why they didn't include a rechargeable battery. And there's no convenient recharging dock for it, like with the remotes. Further reducing cost. I think for most people, this device is best powered by AA's. And most people have racks of them in their kitchen junk-drawer.

I'm interested to see your review, particularly what devices it supports. I can't imagine it's good as a primary remote. But it's too expensive for the very infrequent keyboard to search for shows in a Tivo. But maybe Netflix users are typing movie names nightly.

I don't do web on my TV; I'm a second-screen guy with phone and tablet for that stuff. YouTube, I now search on my iPad and maybe play remotely via Tivo.

We'll see. It's a useful product concept. But it's very much in the "I've got $150 to spend on a tertiary gadget".
 

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